Golf drive indicator



v Oct. 2, 1934.

H. s. MIKESELL GOLF DRIVE INDICATOR 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 13

3nventor;

Gttorneg Oct. 2, 1934.

H. S. MIKESELL GOLF DRIVE INDICATOR Filed Aug. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snnenfor; HERBERT 5. flu 55: 1.:

Patented Oct. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES P 'rmrrv OFFICE I GOLF DRIVE INDICATOR Herbert S. Mikesell, Richmond, Ind. Application August 13, 1932, Serial No. 628,695

6 Claims. (01. 2735-32) The object of this invention, broadly stated, is the provision of a pleasure device which is simple and substantial in its construction, novel in' its operation, useful and entertaining, and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low-price.

More particularly stated, the object of this invention is the production of a device, especially relating to the game of golf, by the employment of which one may enjoy the pleasures and benefits of golf in the home, or in other limited space, and at the same time providing the means for improving the playing technic in practice, and the means for indicating the kind of stroke administered and the amount of force applied to the perfect stroke.

More specifically, my object is the provision of a device which is adapted to show either one or more of the' following desiderata, with relation to the game of golf: Indicating the correctness,

or showing the incorrectness of ones stroke; indicating the driving force of ones stroke; and, in addition to the above, affording an attractive means of entertainment, both for the player and the onlooker; and finally, aifordin'g a unique means of advertising.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will suggest themselves in the course of the following description, and that which is new will be correlated in the appended claims.

One manner of carrying out the principles of my invention in a practical, economical, attractive, comprehensive, and an eflicient manner, is shown in the accompanying two-sheets of drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a front elevation of my complete golf driving indicator. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Figure 3 is a top plan of the base, the same being partly in section, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and showing in dotted lines I the wiring underneath the base and carried thereby. Figure 4 is a plan view of the base, taken on an enlarged scale, from the other views, showing the ball as shifted to one side, and showing in dotted lines certain-parts which are underneath the base and attachedthereto. Figure 5 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 4, except that the ball is shown as shifted in the opposite direction with relation thereto. Figure 6 is a vertical section, as taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, but on an enlarged scale, showing the ball in teed position and showing it, in dotted lines, in contact with the pedal head, and showing its line of travel between its two positions. 5 Figure '1 is the same as Fig. 6, except that the ball is shown as having been pressed directly downward'from normal teed position. Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view, as taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3. Figure 9 is a bottom or underside view, as looking upwardly, of the various parts F which are attached to the underside of the base, the same being taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Figure 10 is a central vertical section as taken through the ball, the tee, and the shaft-to which the tee is attached. And Figure 11 is an isometrical view of the indicator block and the pointer carried thereby. I

Similar indices indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In order that construction, the operation, and the advantages of my invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as fully' and as comprehensively as I may;

In the drawings, numeral 1 denotes a wooden platform or base, which in golf parlance, represents a portion of a teeing ground, the extent of which, in this instance is inconsequential and irrelevant.

Secured to and'extending directly upward from the center of one edge of the member 1, is a channeled standard 2 having a bifurcated channel 2' extending from end-to-end thereof and opening toward the center of the platform 1. The standard 2 is surmounted by a crown 3, which is secured thereto, and it provides a pleasing and artistic finish to the ensemble; and it may have advertising or information matter displayed thereon; and it may be in the nature of a disc, or it may be globular in form, as'preferred.

Formed through the face, or top, of the member 1, and located a short distance inwardly from the standard 2, is a pedal-head aperture '4, with a slot 5 extending fromone point in theperiphery thereof and parallel with the face of the member 2, that is to the right as one faces the channel 2. The purposes of said openings 4 and 5 will develop hereinafter in the course of this description. l

As shown in Fig. 9, numerals 6 and 7 denote the spaced apart metal hangers, which are-rigidly secured to the underside of the member 1, each having an enlarged head pdrtion at one end with an eye therethrough forming abearing, in which eyes is slidably and rockingly mounted the steel shaft 8, which shaft extends across and underneath the central portion of the notch 5. Numeral 9 denotes the iron teeing stem, which in fact is the tee per se, whose. lower portion' is slidably located in an aperture formed through the central part of shaft 8, and it extends upwardly through the slot 5, with a rubber ball secured on its upper end, as shown in Fig. 10, and its lower portion extends through the steel guide block 11, whereby it is slidably mounted therein, and it has an iron nut 12 threaded on its lower end, which nut is slidable in the hollow portion of the block 11. Said teeing stem 9 is resiliently retained at its upward limit of movement by the encircling helical steel spring 13, which retains the nut 12 normally against the shaft 8, as shown in Fig. 10,

yet said spring 13 permits the stem 9 to be pressedproximately midway therebetween, as shown in Fig. 9. Rotatably mounted in said hangers 14, and 15, is the steel pedal shaft 16. Numeral 17 denotes the pedal, whose central portion is mounted on the shaft 16, from which it extends back into the lower portion of the channel 2; and its forward portion terminates in the head portion 18 thereof, which head 18 is adapted to fit loosely in the aperture 4, as shown in Fig. 5.

Slidably fitting in the channel 2 is the indicator block 19, which is adapted to slide up and down in said channel, and it normally rests on the end of the metal pedal 17 which is remote from the head 18, but it is not attached thereto.

Extending forwardly from the face of the block 19, through said channel 2, and then extending to the right, at right-angles, is the pointer 20 which, as the block 19 is raised and lowered, travels up and down over the right-hand sidev of the face of the standard2. The said right-hand side of the face of the standard 2 has displayed thereon a graduated scale, each graduation of which, in actual or ordinary practice, denotes the equivalent often yards of measurement over the golf course which extends at right-angles to the standard 2. The above described parts constitute well known mechanical elements of my construction, and they would be operable, in a limited way, without the other parts which are shown, which latter relate to the electrical equipment.

The electrical equipment includes the blocks 21 and 22, which are secured to the underside of the member 1, and they are locatednear the respective hangers 6 and 7, that is outwardly from the opposing sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 9. Carried by the face of each of said blocks is a flat tends downwardly from the base 1, and secured at one end to said block is the flat brass contact spring 25, which extends horizontally from said block, with its free end portion adapted to be contacted by the lower end of the tee 9, when the ball 10 is driven downwardly.

Numeral 26 denotes the main current supply switch; and numeral 2'7 denotes the junction box. Located directly in front of the standard 2 is a lamp socket 28, which is secured on the base 1; and on each side of said socket sockets 29 and 30 are mounted on said base. The socket 28 is provided with the yellow light bulb 31. The socket 29 is provided with a red light bulb 32. And the socket 30 is provided with a green light bulb 33. Also lamp sockets are distributed on the face of the left-hand part, of the standard 2, there being one of said sockets attached opposite each alternate graduation, as the sockets 34, 35 and 36, each of which has a white light bulb secured therein, as the bulbs 37, 38 and 39, respectively.

In this instance four electric light sockets 40 are distributed over the face of the crown 3, and each of which has a white light bulb 41 secured therein. The white lights are only for the purpose of lighting the faces of the standard, the crown, and the playing grounds surrounding the tee.

Referring now, more particularly, to the electric wiring system: As shown in Fig. 3, numerals 43 and 44 denote the main wires leading to a source of electric power, to supply an electric current, and they both extend into the junction box 27. The wire 43 leads from the junction box into the main switch 26. Extending from the main switch is the wire 45, which extends to near the members 6 and 7, where it divides into two branches, 45a and 4517, which branches are attached to the respective hangers 6 and 7, as shown in Fig. 9. The wire 46 extends from the contact spring 24 to the socket 29, with the electric current adapted to pass through the red bulb 32. The socket 29 is connected with the wire 44, thereby completing the circuit to light said red bulb, that is when the shaft 8 is brought into contact with the contact spring 24, as shown in Fig. 5.

Likewise, the wire 48 extends from the contact spring 23, to the socket 30, with the electric circuit adapted to pass through the green bulb 33, and from the socket 30 the current may pass to the wire 44, whereby when the shaft 8 is contacted with the spring 23 the circuit will be completed to light the said green bulb 33, said connection being shown in Fig. 4.

Attached to the contact spring 25 is the wire 47, which in turn is attached to the socket 28, with the electric circuit adapted to pass through the yellow bulb 3l,'and continuing through the socket 2 8 to the wire 44, whereby if the tee 9 be moved downwardly into contact with the contact spring 25 a circuit will be established through the wire 45, the members 6-7, the shaft 8, the tee 9, the brass contact spring 25, the wire 47, and through the socket 28 to the wire 44, which will cause the yellow bulb 31 to be illuminated.

The white bulbs may be illuminated by means of the single circuit through the wires 49'and 50, the former being connected with the wire 45, and the latter with the wire 44, through the junction box 27, whereby all of the white bulbs will be illuminated whenever the switch 26 is closed to complete the circuit.

Operation.When arranged substantially as shown in Fig. l, the operation is substantially as follows: First closing the switch 26, all of the white bulbs will be illuminated and will remain so as long as the switch is closed, but the colored bulbs will be illuminated only to designate certain strokes of the golfer, which I will now set forth in concrete detail. The golfer, standing on the teeing ground, that is in this instance, on the base 1, and facing the standard 2, with a club grasped by his hands, the ball being in teed position, he will now properly address the ball and proceed to strike it toward the left with the head of his club, as though he were on an actual golf course, If he should give the ball a hook stroke.

then the ball will be directed slightly toward him from a true forward (that is to the left) direction, which will cause the red bulb 32 to glow, for an instant. But if he strikes a sliced stroke the ball will be directed slightly from him, as well as to the general forward direction to the left, which will cause the green bulb 33 to glow. And if he tops the ball it will be deflected slightly downwardly, thereby causing the yellow bulb 31 to glow. But if the ball be struck squarely in the center, at right-angles, then the shaft 8 will turn, but the tee will not be moved laterally, and in that event there will be no colored light exhibited, which will denote a perfect stroke.

By the above it will be apparent that any one, within a reasonable distance of the tee, will be enabled to clearly see just what kind of a stroke the player has made, thereby enabling the player to correct or improve his technic, or other persons to score his strokes. Also it is to be understood that the force with which the ball is struck, by the head of the players club, will be indicated by the pointer in conjunction with the numeral graduations on the channeled standard, the height to which the pointer 20 has been driven, from which one is enabled to see at a glance the number of yards to which the ball would have been driven over a regular golf course.

From the above it will be seen that if the ball be struck squarely in the center of the righthand side thereof, it will be driven to the left and downwardly semi-circularly and caused to strike the head 18 of the pedal 1'7, and this in turn will cause the pedal 17 to turn, teetering on the shaft 8, whereby its inner end, impinging the indicator block 19', will cause the said block to be driven upwardly in the channel 2' until its driving force has been exhausted, carrying with it the pointer 20, which will designate, on the scale the comparative force exerted by the clubhead against the ball. However, it will be apparent, that if a sliced, or a hook, or a topping stroke is made, then the indicator will not rise as high as it would have done with the same force exerted in executing a square or correct stroke against the ball.

From the above it will be apparent that the predominant features of my present invention reside in the means for visualizing either one or more of all of the elements involved in determining, at a glance, the accuracy or the inaccuracy of the stroke of the individual at play, especially in the game of golf.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A golf indicator comprising a base forming a teeing-ground, a tee hinged at its lower end and projecting above the surface of the base, a ball secured on the free end of said tee, electric light bulbs of diiferent colors with relation to each other, electric current supply means for each of said bulbs separably, a multiple switching mechanism adapted to close or break the circuit through the respective bulbs, means by which said switching mechanism is operable by the position of said tee when the ball is struck,whereby when the tee is in vertical position and the ball is struck by a club in the hands of a golfer the particular'kind of incorrectness of the stroke will be indicated by an electric light in one of said bulbs, and a perfect stroke will be known by the absence of any light in either of said bulbs, all substantially as set forth.

with and also adapted to move at right-angles thereto, a golf ball secured on the upper end of said tee and above said base, a plurality of electric light bulbs, an independent circuit connecting each of said bulbs with said switch mechanism by which the "on and off condition of each of said bulbs will be controlled by said switch mechanism for indicating certain positions to which said golf ball may be moved when it is struck by a player in order to visualize the inaccuracy of the stroke when the golf ball is struck all substantially as shown and described.

3. A golf drive indicator comprising the representation of a teeing ground, a tee projecting thereabove, a ball attached on the upper end of said tee, a longitudinally slidable shaft through which the tee may slide at right-angles thereto, a spring for normally and resiliently retaining the tee to its" limit in an upwardly extending position, electric light bulbs of different colors with relation to eachother located at a distance from the tee, means for conveying electric currents from a source of supply separately through each of said bulbs, means for closing and breaking the electric circuits separately through each of said bulbs, the last mentioned means being controlled by the ends of said shaft and the lower end of said tee, depending on the kind of stroke applied to said ball and transmitted through the tee and the shaft to either one of said circuit closing and breaking means, for causing a particular one of said bulbs to be illuminated, for denoting the particular incorrect stroke administered to the ball.

4. A device for indicating the several ways a golf ball has been struck as to whether it be a hook, slice, or a topping stroke, comprising a tee for said ball mounted upon a support for rectilinear sliding movement in a vertical and a horizontal direction and for rotational movement in a vertical plane, indicating means, an electrical current control means connected to said tee and to said indicating means whereby said indicating means indicates the displacement of the tee in a horizontal or vertical direction when the ball carried by said tee is struck, said indication of direction of movement of the tee indicating whether the struck ball has been topped, hooked, sliced or accurately struck.

5. A device for indicating the several ways a golf ball has been struck as to whether it be a hook, slice or a topping stroke, comprising a tee for said ball mounted upon a support for rectilinear sliding movement in a vertical and a horizontal direction and for rotational movement in a vertical plane, an indicating means comprising electric light bulbs located at a distance from said tee, each of said bulbs being adapted to denote a different way said golf ball has been struck, control means operative by said tee connected to said tee and to said indicating means, means for providing each of said bulbs with an electric circuit by which each bulb is adapted to be lighted independently'of each other, said control causing said indicating means to indicate the displacement and direction of displacement of the tee in a horizontal or vertical direction when the ball supported by said tee is struck, said indication of direction of movement of the tee indicating whether the struck a ball has been topped, hooked, sliced or accurately struck.

6. A device for indicating the several ways a ball has been struck in the game of golf, as to whether it be a hook, a slice, or a topping stroke, comprising a horizontal shaft, a normally vertical tee having its lower end portion extending through said shaft and adapted to move vertically and at various angles of inclination, a ball attached to the' upper end of said tee, a series of electric light bulbs each adapted to 

